The atmosphere surrounding the earth is not only air, but a mixture of gases that help support life on our planet.These gases are called "greenhouse gases": carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide. These gases act just like the glass in a greenhouse. The gases trap the sun's heat near the earth and keep our heat from going into space. This is a natural effect. If there were no greenhouse gases the earth would be a very cold place. For thousand of years, the Earth's atmosphere has stayed just about the same and has been just right for humans, animals, and plants to survive.

But NOW we have a HUGE problem!!

We are making a lot more greenhouse gases than ever before. This is a time where the earth's atmosphere is changing faster than ever before because of the things we do every day. We are creating pollution and changing the earth.

The greenhouse gases trap the sun's heat and keep the earth warm.

Where do GREENHOUSE GASES come from?

• Carbon Dioxide:
  • This is the most important greenhouse gas. It can be natural or made by people.
  • When we burn any kind of fossil fuel, carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere.
  • Fossil fuel is burned when we drive cars, heat our schools and homes, run any factories to make things.
  • The fact that more and more trees are being cut everywhere even in the rainforest, there are less trees to use up the carbon dioxide.
  • When garbage rots in landfills, carbon dioxide is also released into the air.
  • One car produces 3.5 times its weight in carbon dioxide
• Nitrous Oxide :
  • can occur naturally but chemical fertilizers and burning fossil fuels cause it to happen more .
• Methane:
  • made when vegetation burns or rots without oxygen.
  • Methane is released from garbage dumps, burning fossil fuels
    and grazing cattle.